TEFLMike

Hi,

The school whee I work suggested I try the following Company for Health Insurance. I did and it was extremely competitive>>>>>>>>

Thai Health Insurance

Bangkok

Tel: 02642 3100 or check out their site >>>

www.thaihealth.co.th

worth a go :-)

Terrible. However, please do not tarnish all teachers with the same brush. Re: Your message title .

The butchers in England are selling them for £2.39 a ib. Mind you, Tesco's are offering 2 for the price of one.

The best deal, one thinks, is Iceland supermarkets, buy two and get a free ' Red Nose' gift.

Restaurant-wise, Beefeater chain are selling them at at £10 for 2 meals, with a free glass of 'house' wine and mince pie!

Feelin pretty down about the lack of snow in Bangkok...... really takes away from the Christmas spirit. Where would be a good place to go? Respond or pm me any help is appreciated. Feelin homesick

I do not know where you can go. There is no snow in the UK as yet. Very cold though, possibly to cold for snow.

I am feeling LOS sick lol.

If, in the event of it snowing, I will pack some in my suitcase, and bring it to you, on my return to LOS on the 31st December.

I did not teach in an EP, only an MEP wannabe and a 'special English' local program, at ancient Thai govt. matayom schools where the curriculum is set in stone except I could in many ways do what I wanted. Other than those select small classes who opted to pay more for intensive English study, the mass classes only had attentive students in the front row, 6 out of 48 students, ineffective textbooks, and the students had fossilized mistakes drummed into them by Thai English teachers who ....bless their hearts, good hearts....usually didn't know how to teach English. You might look for an early prathom position where you can mold them as English speakers.

I noticed the front row pupils are more attentive. Recently, I have reversed their seating and brought the back rowers to the front. I find now, they too, are becoming more attentive. :-) As for thai teachers: I totally agree with you.

I teach at a Girls chool in Chonburi. 14 to 15 years. M4 and M5. There are over 4 thousands students. I can hear a pin drop in class most of the times. Other times they are noisy. Just keep them them occupied and involved. There is no way you can keep all the class interested at any given time. I can have a lot of fun with them. Sometimes a lesson plan goes out of the window as some pupils do not arrive to the lesson due to other activities. I find that is nice, as I can then talk to each of the attendees as a small group and not as a full class. A more. cosy result transpires. Just go with the flow and it is easier to adjust

I must admit, prior to my return to the UK for Xmas, many girls, once they found out I was leaving for Xmas, started crying their eyes out. It appears as though I have acquired their trust an respect.

Personally, I am happier teaching the older age groups, than the younger.

Hope this helps.

I read about this in the paper 3 days ago. Howeever, I remaind quiet until I saw it officially announced.

The following has just been announce don the 5pm New (UK time). >>>>

British families could be required to put up a cash deposit of as much as £1,000 when relatives visit from outside the European Union.

The money would act as a guarantee that they will return home at the end of their stay, under proposals floated by ministers.

The standard visa time for non-EU tourists could also be slashed from six months to three in a bid to crack down on illegal immigration and working.

The proposals were set out in a consultation paper published by the Home Office on Tuesday with the aim of ensuring that visitors to the UK comply with the conditions of their visas.

The paper also suggests the creation of a specific business and specialist visa - which could cover arts and showbusiness performers, as well as film crews making movies in the UK - and a special visa for one-off events like the Olympics.

The Home Office on Tuesday declined to confirm reports that the family bond may be set at as much as £1,000, but a spokesman said that any financial security would have to be set "at a meaningful level" in order to be an effective deterrent.

And Immigration Minister Liam Byrne stressed that, if adopted, the bond would not be applied in every case, but only where there was considered to be a risk that visiting relatives may not return home.

Mr Byrne said: "Tougher checks abroad mean we keep risky people out. By next spring we'll check everyone's fingerprints when they apply for a visa. Now we're proposing a financial guarantee as well - not for everyone, but where we think there's a risk."

Habib Rahman, chief executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), condemned the new plans as "discriminatory" and said the Government was trying to block families from visiting the UK.

"It will create hardship for families," Mr Rahman said. "This means that only people with fat wallets will be able to bring their families."

This reminds me of a situtiuon that is ongoing. How many times do you go in a bar and bar ladies attempt to take your bottle or glass and there is still 2 baht's worth still in it ???

Have a word with Sunbelt Visa , who advertise on ThaiVisa. You will notice ads and links to them.

It may help us a little if we had some idea of the OP's age?

This may help us to help him?

Thailand Public Holidays 2007

January 01: New Year's Day

January 02: in lieu

February 18-19: Chinese New Year

March 03: Makha Bucha day

March 05: in lieu

April 06: Chakri Day

April 13-17: Songkran - Thai New Year

May 01: Labour Day

May 05: Coronation Day

May 07: in lieu

May 31: Visakha Bucha Day

July 29: Asanha Bucha Day

July 30: Buddhist Lent Day

July 31: in lieu

August 12: Queen's Birthday

August 13: in lieu

October 23: Chulalongkorn Day

October 26: End of Buddhist Lent

November 24: Loy Kratong

December 05: King's Birthday

December 10: Constitution Day

December 25: Christmas Day

December 31: New Year's Eve

Thailand must have the record for public holidays.

They seem to have a different definition of 'public holiday' from America.

I may be wrong, but I've never known any schools to be closed nor businesses to be shut down on Chinese New Year nor Loy Kratong Day. I teach at a government school and we have classes on both December 25 and January 1.

Edited to change the preposition after different to appease the grammar police

The following is a copy of my school's official holiday dates>>>

January 1st New Year's Day

February 21st Makha Bucha Day

April 7th Chakri Day (Substitution Day)

April 14th Songkran Festival

April 15th Songkran Festival

May 1st National Labour Day

May 5th Coronation Day

May 19th Visakha Bucha Day

July 1st Mid Year Closing Day

July 17th Asarnha Bucha Day

August 12th H.M. the Queen's Birthday

October 23rd Chulalongkorn Day

December 5th H.M. the King's Birthday

December 10th Constitution Day

December 31st New Year 's Eve.

I do believe that public schools' may differ.

Ever so sorry, I meant to type 'International schools/private schools.

Thailand Public Holidays 2007

January 01: New Year's Day

January 02: in lieu

February 18-19: Chinese New Year

March 03: Makha Bucha day

March 05: in lieu

April 06: Chakri Day

April 13-17: Songkran - Thai New Year

May 01: Labour Day

May 05: Coronation Day

May 07: in lieu

May 31: Visakha Bucha Day

July 29: Asanha Bucha Day

July 30: Buddhist Lent Day

July 31: in lieu

August 12: Queen's Birthday

August 13: in lieu

October 23: Chulalongkorn Day

October 26: End of Buddhist Lent

November 24: Loy Kratong

December 05: King's Birthday

December 10: Constitution Day

December 25: Christmas Day

December 31: New Year's Eve

Thailand must have the record for public holidays.

They seem to have a different definition of 'public holiday' from America.

I may be wrong, but I've never known any schools to be closed nor businesses to be shut down on Chinese New Year nor Loy Kratong Day. I teach at a government school and we have classes on both December 25 and January 1.

Edited to change the preposition after different to appease the grammar police

The following is a copy of my school's official holiday dates>>>

January 1st New Year's Day

February 21st Makha Bucha Day

April 7th Chakri Day (Substitution Day)

April 14th Songkran Festival

April 15th Songkran Festival

May 1st National Labour Day

May 5th Coronation Day

May 19th Visakha Bucha Day

July 1st Mid Year Closing Day

July 17th Asarnha Bucha Day

August 12th H.M. the Queen's Birthday

October 23rd Chulalongkorn Day

December 5th H.M. the King's Birthday

December 10th Constitution Day

December 31st New Year 's Eve.

I do believe that public schools' may differ.

The 24th and 25th Decemebr are not showing as holiday's on the school calendar I have. The 31st and the 1st of January are. School as normal over Christmas.

The fact that there was going to be restrictions on alchohol sales was mentioned in newspapers about three or four weeks ago. I remember well, discussing the scenario with colleagues at school.

Obviously, there must have been other avenues of media also reporting the situation. Thus eliminating the idea that no one new about the situation until a few hours ago.

Please don't ask me which newspapers. I only read two . The Bangkok Post and the Pattaya Mail. For the life of me, I am unable to remember which paper. However, the actual newspaper source is irela

event.

Unluckily your colorful imagination overrides pretty much what you remember; it is standard practice to prohibit selling of alcohol on elections, not so on pre-elections. This is new as a surprising large number of voters registered.

Would you have read this thread from the beginning, you would have actually seen it quoted (but probably you read your newspapers as you read up on here...).

As your handle indicates that you are a teacher, I must say I pity your students, if this is how you prepare yourself.

Having the potential closure of your business for 20% of a month 'discussed' in a rag like the Pattaya Mail would not make it the law. An official, clear statement from the government -- #months well in advance# -- might.

This would entail also that it has been communicated clearly to the police. Calling up police a day before those closures and them unable to answer if there is such a regulation clearly shows that there was no such law but it was a thing made up on the fly without much thought to consequences. This is NOT a sign of democracy, this is exactly the opposite.

Now enforcing it in the typical babana-republic way (some places completely closed, others totally open) makes it even worse, because it shows what a laughing stock the Thais are in respect to their own laws. Remarkable how the farang places in tourist areas are all more law-abiding than the Thais just a few kilometers inland -- makes you pretty much loose all respect.

I always wonder when posters here say we should respect the local laws and traditions when the locals themselves don't give a hoot. I would arther say: 'when in rome do as the romans do'...

I too live by the motto 'When in Rome do as the Romans do'. It is foolish not to do.

I have yet to locate a country that does not have warts. Any country who decides to operate a ban on alchohol, will, no doubt, still experience a 'some are open, some are closed' scenario. That is the rule of nature. However, I agree with you as regards to the timing of the announcements regarding the ban. Some Countries ban smoking in public places, including bars, on an ongoing basis, yet there are instances where it continues. Would more notice of the alchohol ban in Thailand have made that much difference? It is an unknown quantity, yet doubt it would have made a difference. The fact remains, the people holding the licences have been advised, regardless of timing and it is something they should have attempted to adhere to with good will. The choice is theirs, and consequences follow. We cannot do anything about that.

Maybe part of the reply was on a more personal level, and irelevent, however, I am ascertaining to the debate, or discussion, as to the alchohol ban.

Regards.

The fact that there was going to be restrictions on alchohol sales was mentioned in newspapers about three or four weeks ago. I remember well, discussing the scenario with colleagues at school.

Obviously, there must have been other avenues of media also reporting the situation. Thus eliminating the idea that no one new about the situation until a few hours ago.

Please don't ask me which newspapers. I only read two . The Bangkok Post and the Pattaya Mail. For the life of me, I am unable to remember which paper. However, the actual newspaper source is irela

event.

Even in the Uk Licenced premises cannot open when they want on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The majority of pubs/bars close at Midnight on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day, as Christmas day is regarded as Sunday hours. On Christmas Day itself, somePubs/bars, but not many, can open at 11am and close at 3pm. The majority, if not most, do not open again until the morning of Boxing Day, on the 26th.

Yes, the UK also, has closing hours to respect and celebrate Christmas. The closed hours allow landlords/bar owners the time to spend with their families, to enjoy Christmas also.

There is more to life than open pubs/bars/discos, name them what you will.

The UK now has laws which allow 24/7 opening of licenced premises, however, thank goodness, very, very few premises take that allowance up. The numbers that do so, is negligible, in fact, virtually non-existent.

I tend to think that the OP believes that money is more important than life. Please forgive and correct me if I am wrong.

Well,lads and lassies........

I have got quite thirst on after reading all the posts. One deserves a pint or 10.

It is 3.30pm here in UK, which makes it 10.30pm there. How did you all get on with bar openings?

Please advise me, I will read your replies on my return from the 'pub'.

Thank you so much for the extremely informative reply

The information has answered many, many questions I myself, pondering.

Back in the UK for Christmas, and may I add, I am missing the hot weather, I willnot be aroundwhen the ban of alchohol is enforced on the aforementioned dates.

My heart goes out to you drinkers.

I wonder what those on the way to Thailand for a holiday over Christmas will think on their arrival?

Obviously, travel agents will not be advising them. Maybe the travel agents are unaware?

A very Happy Christmas to one and all.

Mike

Lottery money again ???

well, some of you may have followed my story which started six months ago when i was dismissed from my place of employment for no reason other than 'the head office doesnt want a farang doing this job'.

a very brief rundown of what has happened to me in the past six months is as follows:

i started work for a hotel in phuket on june 15, 2006. i did a great job, increased room revenue by 24% for the first five months of 2007, did things over and above my job description and was liked by my fellow employees and hotel guests. in fact, many hotel guests have become friends of mine now.

on june 13 this year, at close of business, i was told that i was no longer needed, give back the car keys and dont come in tomorrow. of course i was devastated and didnt really know what to do next. i consulted people from this forum who persuaded me to take this matter to court as there were laws to protect me against this kind of treatment.

i went to court for the first time where the hotel GM did not turn up, so the case was adjourned. my lawyer in bkk also stood me up so i was left floundering with no representation at the last minute which made me feel like an idiot but luckily the case was adjourned at the hotels instigation.

i then found a local lawyer here in phuket and went to court again on november 8 where the hotels team picked up on a minor thing in the original submission by the lawyer in saw in bkk and made a big deal out of it. they said that the bkk lawyer had stated that my contract did not have an end date, where in actual fact it did. this stupid error on his part made it seem impossible for me to win the case.

on that day, the hotel offered me 10,000thb to settle on the day and end the story. of course i did not agree to this, as i know by the law that i was entitled to a lot more than this and the 10,000thb did not even cover my legal fees.

at the end of that second hearing, i was feeling very 'woe is me' at the end as the judge and the lawyer for the hotel were very nasty and threatening in the way they spoke to me and my lawyer. but i stuck to my guns and would not withdraw the case, knowing that i should be able to win.

as we were sitting outside, a gentleman approached us and told us that there should be no problem with me winning this case. the reason is that the work i was doing was not a special project and was part of the every day running of the hotel business. he told me that i should win the case when i next went back, which was december 4, today. i later found out that this man was a judge (who was not working on my case, but who did say that everyone in the labour court knew of my case).

so, today we went back and i had the hotels old HR manager on my team, as well as their old financial controller, for moral support. after an initial debate about the way my contract was translated differently by each team, the judges went out the back for a coffee and discussion. then they came out all guns blazing saying that the hotel was clearly wrong in this case and that i had every right to sue them and win. the hotel cannot just fire me for no reason and that they should pay me 3 months salary as compensation.

as i had only been there for a year, the judge would not award damages, nor would he award me 30 days in lieu of notice, but i was very happy to just win the case and know that i was not living in a fantasy world thinking that i could sue a thai business and win. of course, i had the option of taking it higher if i wanted to, but this would have taken around a year to process and the legal fees would have been higher than the payout (i suspect), so i was more than happy to accept what they offered me today.

the judge told us to shake hands, and the gm of the hotel sat there with her hands firmly in her lap with her lips pursed and said 'mai aow' when i extended my hand to her. a member of her team then offered me his hand to shake and i accepted this. i also told the gm that i did not have any problem with her at all (she was not there when i was employed by the hotel). the gm ignored me and i feel that she did not do herself any favours in doing this.

the judge then asked me what i was planning to do now and i told him that i may just take a holiday and pehaps return to australia or whatever. he told me 'donna, always remember that you did not do anything wrong here. the hotel did the wrong thing and if you want to remain in phuket you can do so knowing that you are welcome on the island'. what a lovely man. (i must point out that this was said in the courtroom in front of everyone).

so, for anybody who has issues with an employer, i encourage you to stand your ground. seek out a good lawyer and do not be intimidated at all. the hotel tried to intimidate me by speaking to me like i was a piece of s*&t in the court room, but i did not lose heart. i stood by what i knew was right and by the fact that i did not do anything wrong.

i may be a non thai, but the law protected me as it would a thai person and i am thankful for that. for all of you who think that there is no justice for us westerners in this country, im happy to tell you that you are wrong.

WELL DONE DONNA!

I think this one in Benjasiri Park is more sensual:

My goodness! Ballon Sellers have come on a bit since my childhood

Hi yoyo-

Try having a look here > http://www.meditationinthailand.com/

Also if you 'google' meditation center thailand, you will find plenty of info about what i think you are looking for.

Good luck.

I just may have a look into this also.It seems a very good idea.

Mike

Hot water in Washroom and Kitchen? Jeez!

Not in my rented 13 year old condo, there isn't.

Wet shave? I put the kettle on.

Some days it is faster connection than other days.

Today, for some reason, the internet connection, is operating on 'High Speed Gas', it is that fast, here in school. I have never known it as fast.

(Do'nt hold your breath Mike)

Other days, although my system tells me I have an excellent connection, I may have to a router, yes, but not to TOT etc..

By the way, would my Netgear Router, I have in the UK, be ok to operate here, in the eventuality of moi having an internet connection, other than my laptop wifi, at some stage?

Best,

Mike